HOME GTNTER MTRGHANT

I secretly say a silent prayer asking that all printing presses stop for at least one year. Maybe that's enough time to catch up on all the reading I feel obligated to absorb.

During a recent television broadcast, 20l 20. a critic referred to the national newspaper, USAToday, as "McNews." Well, I say three cheers for McNews! I only wish that there was a fast food capsule I could digest that could synthesize all the information that's in the unread stack of trade publications decorating my office floor.

I have grrat envy for those who have developed speed reading skills. I haven't. Also I haven't curbed my appetite for all those publications that I feel I must at least peruse to keep abreast of my interests. I can't.

My reading "system" breaks down often and the only way that I can catch up is to throw out, or file, months of unread trade books that seem to be havine babies. So on some given evenings, I find myself dumping my collection of recent publications, which I saved because "I would get to them sometime soon."

This mountain of paper is usually constructed of 15 national and regional building material books (5 per month x 3 months), 12 home center books, six advertising and publishing books, six contractor books, six trade books directed to the "meetings and conventions" industry 24 newsletters from consultants. accountants, and platform speakers.

Then there are the Frequent FI1;er magazines that come with my OAG Pocket Guide. the market research studies, a sixweek-old Business Week, a copy of Forbes, that I swiped from United Airlines, three current issues of the San Diego Ti'anscript, 12 unfolded Wall Steet Joumals, and three issues of 'Art Production."

There are also seven piastic bags of post cards (direct response cards as they are called by the prost. each pack containing as many as 100 cards urging me to send for more in- formation about building material products, charts and graphs to program my time. executive toys, and more books to keep me up-to-date on trends in marketing.

When the package arrived at my office during the Christmas holidays, I guessed it was a book or a box of candy from a friend. client or supplier To my delight it was a handsome plaque from The Merchant Maga:ir?e commemorating five years of rvriting this column.

It was a superb gesture and perfectly timed to get me out of the holiday depressions. It was also a great reminder of how important these act\ of apprecirtion are to individuals. The Christmas candy is gone, the popcom finished, and the rest of the gifts have been neatly stored in the closet. But the plaque hangs proudly within my daily vision as a reminder of how nice it is to be associated with considerate people.

Thanks!

Lastly, there are the 14 mail order catalogs selling office furniture, computer desks, and typewriter ribbons which, for some unexplained reason, I feel a great need to review. And, of course, there are the four annual directories...but, enough!

Maybe I ought to pray that the presses stop firr trru rears. Then asain. it's \\ith a srcxt clcal of apprehension that I c]iscald 90 clars ,,1 tttlte;rrl (r',rLle lrrrhlit.rtilrr.. I lir. irr i,,rt stlnt tcal that in ntr eonsulting uork I riill ntention \ontc contpltn\ of]'iecl uho *trs cannecl 60 ciar r u{o...or tulk ultout tltc suc ccsscs ol u collpan\ tllrt iiletl Cihapter I I last ucck or aborrl tr C'lticago chltn tllrt no krngcr crists bcclrusc it r.r its lrbsoltrecl bt' sonte othcr q[inl.

NIalbc I'll htuc tinrc to reucl'crr all ncxt lieck! l.itc is lirll ol tough dccisionsl

(( orttirtuetl lrortt page 16 )

Roger Braniser. Dennis Richardson and Oregort Cuwdirut Forest Prtilru-ts of North Plains. Or.. have fbrmed Oregotr Ctuuuliut Forest Prtrluds ot' Cttlilitnriu to specialize in westem finish lurlbcr; ofllccs are in Oransc. Ca....

Pr4tc & Tilbrt ltu'.. Porllancl. Or.. has opcnc-cl a cargo reloacl in Port Huenente to serl'icc the So. Ca. ntarket...lVl'[1 f1.l-r'stt't' Ct'tIcr is thc new Irilnrc fi)r Wcstern FrlrcstrV Ccnter. R'rllrrrrtl. Ol'....11, r1 (',,t-ttt litr.k Lrrrt.s. ELrgcne. Or.. is in a voluntary liquiclation of the contpanv...

Los Anseles. Ca.. lecl thc U.S. in thc value of bldg. penlits clLrring the last 6 months of '8,5 at $1.8 billion; San Dieso. Ca.. uas .lth uith Sl.1.1 billion...3.12 nrillion existin-e single farnily homes w'ere sold nationwide in 1985 at a median sales price of $74.800...

True kntper Corp. is the new name for the Alleghen! Internq- tictnal Hctrdware group of Allegheny International, Pittsburgh,Pa....

WTD Industries, Philomath, Or., is rebuilding a hardwood mill destroyed by fire; they expect to be back in operation within six months

Carborundunt Abrasives Co. has opened a Los Angeles, Ca., distribution center . UC Industries, Inc., has opened a northwest distribution center in Tacoma, Wa....

The Red Cedar Shingle ond Handsplit Shake Bureau has celebrated its Tlth birthday...

WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

I N AN ELECTION year. in hopes that I people will recall all the good things when they get to the polls, our legislators attempt to pass legislation favorable to everyone. You might sayshouldn't it always be that way. And you are right. But unfortunately it's not.

Because not all legislation is favorable to industry, it's necessary for organizations such as LASC to join with others and have a legislative advocate in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

At the state level, Westem Building Material Dealers Association (Westem), watches all legislation for LASC, the Building Industry Credit Association, the Lumber Merchants Association of Northern California and a number of other credit associations such as the Building Material Dealers Credit Association in Fresno, Ca.

During 1985, Ron Banow guided by a board of directors, successfully watched and helped change the direction of some potentially bad legislation, bad from the building material industry standpoint, that is. Ron lobbied on behalf of some bills that were favorable to the industry as well.

In Califomia, the Mechanics Lien Law is a very useful tool for the material supplier. Every year aftempts are made to weaken the law. On each attempt Western goes into action, and so far the effort has been successsfirl. The California Lien Law is one of the best in the nation. And we want to keep it that way.

Energy issues, building codes, environment and tax bills and worken' compensation are a few of the other areas that are carefully watched. As the proposed bill is made available, a summation is sent out to each member of Westem. Then on a monthly or more frequent basis if necessary, we meet and determine the position to be taken on the bill. It's a lot of work but it's just another thing that an association does for its mem- bers. It's one of the needs of an individual firm that a grcup can do more effectively and less expensively than the individual.

At the national level, LASC participates in the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association: NLBMDA has strong people watching national legislation.

As legislation develops, they put out "Capital Comments" which is sent to all members of LASC and other associations that belong to NLBMDA. This is a well written publication that helps the building material distributor keep abreast of the legislative happenings that affect the industry.

In March, NLBMDA will sponsor a Conference with Congress. This will give the lumber dealer an opportunity to go to Washington, be briefed by experts on the status of legislation affecting the lumber industry. Then with the briefrng material as background, these dealers will call on their respective members of the House of Representatives and Senate. It's a wonderful opportunity to show your elected representative that you are a concemed business person and arc interested enough to come to Washington to talk with him. Registration forms for that meeting will be in the mail to all association members in the very near future.

Associations are formed and function only to help the members. Be a part of the pmgressive body that makes up your association. Look into membership today. Remember it doesn't cost-it pavs.

CHUCK LINK executive director

I AMES R. "Bob" Perrin has been in U stalled as 1986 president of WBMA. He is owner and manager of Capital Lumber Co. in Boise, Id. He has operated that firm for ll yean. hior to that he was with Boise Cascade Corp., building materials and service, for 2l years.

Bob is associated with Rotary, Optimists, Boise Chamber of Commerce, Boise State Athletic Association, Masonic Lodge and El Korah Shrine. He enjoys boating, water skiing, snow skiing, golf, snow machining, photography and traveling. Bob and his wife, Becky, have four children and three grandchildren. Congrarulations to Bob and his family and best wishes for a successful and happy 1986.

Other officers installed during the 82nd annual convention in Seattle were Clayton Smith, W. J. Conrad Lumber Co., Coos Bay, Or., and Joe Orem, Bellingham Sash & Door

Co., Bellingham, Wa., vice presidents.

Association members sincerely appreciate the time, effort and inspired leadership outgoing president Cecil Cleveland devoted to association activities for a successful 1985.

We wish to thank Cecil, his wife, Beverly, and their family for their generous support of WBMA.

Directors elected to three year terms arc Alaska: Norm Kruckenberg, district l; Bill Hepworth, district 2; Washington: John Connell, district 4; Robert Harper, district 11; Fay Johnstone. district 12: RandThomas, district 26; Oregon: Mark Balfour, district 18; Jim Duncan, district 20; Idaho: Bob Storms, district 25. Bill Cromett was elected director at

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FRED CARUSO executive secretary

fall, the association will sponsor for the first time in the area a spring buying show, April

14 and 15, at the Merchandise Mart in Denver.

Dealers from the mountain states arc expected to attend to buy for their late spring and summer needs. Buying and producteducation will be stressed. No social or business sessions are scheduled.

The annual fall buying show will be continued as a part of the association's convention. Nov. 6-8. at the Bnoadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs. Frank Denny, president of Builders Square, San Antonio, Tx., has agreed to be a headline speaker'. Other speakers booked include Morton Marcus, an economist from Bloomington, In.

Denver Lumber Co., Denver, received the Oustanding Safety Program Award for 1985 in a program sponsored by the association and Lumbermen's Underuriting Alliance. Gittings Lumber Co., Denver; Ranchero Builders Supply, Belen, N.M.; Crissey Fowler Lumber Co., Colorado Springs, and Kitts Enterprises, Albuquerque, N.M., received honorable mention.

WE SPECIALIZE IN PRE-STAINING "YOUR MATERIAL" IN ALL OLYMPIC COLORS, COATING ALL 4 SIDES OF EXTERIOR SIDING AND DIMENSIONALTRIM. PLUS ,I COAT APPLICATION ON ALL SIZES OF PLWVOOD. ENCLOSED WAREHOUSE FACILIry,

The Outstanding Safety Improvement Award went to Rio Grancle Co., Denver. Honorable mentlon recipients were R/W Specialties, Denver; Stringham Lumber Co., Salt Lake City, Ut.;ABZ Lumber Co., Denver, .and J. C. Baldridge Lumber Co., AIbuquerque, N.M. Larry Hoffman, Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance, presented the awards.

The association is sponsoring a series of basic material estimating schools in February, March and April. Charley Assmus, a professional estimator, salesman and teacher, who has taught the cowse 12 times for MSLBMDA, will be making his thirteenth appeaftmce. Certificates will be given to those completing the one day session.

Dates and locations are: Feb. 13, Viscount Hotel, Denver; Feb. 20, Sheraton Hotel, Salt Lake City, Ut.; March 4, Viscount Hotel, Denver; March 20, Best Western Stardust Hotel, Idaho Falls, Id., and April 5, Hilton Hotel, Albuquerque. N.M.

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